Force of 28,270 to secure MPR session

JAKARTA (JP): National Police chief Gen. Rusdihardjo said on Tuesday 28,270 personnel from the police, the military and the People's Security (Kamra) would be deployed to secure the upcoming General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) next month.

"The figure is for a stage one security level. The number will be doubled if the situation reaches an emergency level," Rusdihardjo told reporters after addressing the National Police leadership meeting at the Police Staff College (PTIK).

He said of the 28,270 deployed, 9,500 would come from the police, 2,900 from the military and 12,000 from Kamra.

The police chief said it was normal preparation since it was the first time this year the country would have an Assembly session.

He acknowledged that the political tension in the country, particularly in the capital, was rising.

Separately, Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu asked the country's political elite not to encourage their supporters to travel to the capital during the Assembly general session.

He said the political elite should only issue statements that calmed their supporters. "The political elite should not tell their supporters to come to Jakarta during the MPR General Session," he said at his office on Tuesday.

"Political leaders should understand that mobilizing the masses would only cause trouble here."

He said he had received reports that some 100,000 backers of various political parties would travel to the city to support their respective parties during the MPR session, scheduled to be held from Aug. 7 to Aug. 18.

"I've been hearing for the past two weeks that they (party supporters) will be here during the General Session," the two- star general said.

He did not state to which political parties the supporters belonged. However, he said he told the leaders of Banser, the security task force of Nahdlatul Ulama's youth wing, Anshor, and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) not to get involved in security during the Assembly session.

"I've spoken to their leaders and told them that should the party supporters enter the capital, they must not interfere with security affairs in areas surrounding the MPR/House of Representatives complex.

"It's the duty of the police and the Indonesian Military to maintain security and order at the Senayan legislative complex .... They should only get involved in protecting their respective party secretariats and the surrounding neighborhoods," he said.

Ryamizard conceded the presence of large numbers of political party supporters from outside Jakarta would directly or indirectly affect security in the capital.

The military chief said he had made the necessary preparations in anticipation of an influx of party supporters and possible security disturbances in the city. "Currently, we're preparing some 5,000 troops to back the city police in safeguarding the capital.

"But their number will immediately be increased if the tension escalates," he said, adding that troops from neighboring cities and towns would be deployed to support the security operation.

Optimistic

Ryamizard was optimistic the police and TNI could control the situation and maintain security and order in the city. "I predict there will be no unrest during the MPR General Session."

He said he believed that Indonesians, including students, were aware the country needed political stability to restore its economy and continue with its development programs. "Our President was democratically elected by a majority of MPR members .... Therefore, there are no grounds to topple him."

He said he was not opposed to legislators questioning the President during the General Session about a number of his decisions and statements. "They (legislators) can point out his (the President's) weaknesses and mistakes, but should not put him on trial." (08/imn)